**Pistou and Pesto: A Journey of Culinary Delights**
Prepare to embark on a culinary journey to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean, where the vibrant flavors of aromatic herbs, nutty cheeses, and luscious olive oil intertwine to create two beloved sauces: pistou and pesto. These versatile condiments, hailing from the regions of Provence in southeastern France and Liguria in northwestern Italy, respectively, have captured the hearts and palates of food lovers worldwide.
While traditional pesto is characterized by its vibrant green hue and distinct flavor derived from basil, garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil, pistou stands out with its Provencal charm, featuring a delightful combination of fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, and grated Parmesan cheese. Both sauces boast a symphony of aromatic herbs, creating a flavorful dance on the palate.
This comprehensive guide presents a collection of carefully curated recipes that cater to various dietary preferences and culinary inclinations. Whether you seek a classic pesto recipe that captures the essence of Liguria, a delectable vegan pesto bursting with vibrant flavors, or a unique nutless pesto that accommodates nut allergies, this article has you covered.
Experience the authentic taste of pistou, a Provencal treasure, with our traditional pistou recipe that embodies the rustic charm of this beloved sauce. For those seeking a vegan alternative, our vegan pistou recipe delivers a symphony of flavors without compromising on taste. And for those with nut allergies or those seeking a delightful twist, our nutless pesto recipe offers a flavorful symphony of herbs, garlic, and olive oil, creating a versatile condiment that complements a wide range of dishes.
Unleash your culinary creativity and embark on a journey through the vibrant flavors of pistou and pesto. Let these sauces elevate your culinary creations, adding a touch of Provencal sunshine or Ligurian enchantment to your meals.
NUT-FREE PESTO
This pesto recipe was handed down from my grandmother. You will notice it has no nuts, which were considered a "filler" in my Italian family. Everyone I serve this to says it's the best. -Mary Jo Galick, Portland, Oregon
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 10m
Yield 1 cup.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Pulse the first 6 ingredients in a food processor until coarsely chopped. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream until mixture is smooth. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 206 calories, Fat 21g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 20mg cholesterol, Sodium 293mg sodium, Carbohydrate 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 3g protein.
PISTOU SOUP
Make the pesto a day ahead and keep covered in the fridge, ready to top this healthy French vegetable soup from Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Soup
Time 45m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a large pan and sweat the onion, carrots, celery, fennel, turnip, celeriac and parsnip for 5-10 mins. Pour over 1.6 litres of boiling water, season and simmer for 10-15 mins, until the vegetables are tender. At the last moment add the peas and the beans and cook for a further 1 min. Taste and season with salt and pepper as necessary.
- Meanwhile, make the pesto sauce. Blanch the basil leaves in boiling water for 5 secs, then remove and cool under cold running water. Pat dry and purée all the ingredients in a liquidiser. Taste and season, then reserve. Keep in the fridge until required. When ready to serve, pour the soup into a large, warmed tureen, top with some of the pesto sauce and serve to your guests. Place Parmesan and croûtons on the table so guests may help themselves.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 201 calories, Fat 15 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 13 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 7 grams sugar, Fiber 7 grams fiber, Protein 4 grams protein, Sodium 0.15 milligram of sodium
PISTOU SOUP
My mom brought this recipe back from a cooking class in Provence. Pistou is the French word for pesto. This is a wonderful tasting fresh vegetable soup. We've made it 3 times in just one month! It is so easy, healthy, filling, and delicious (better the next day). Can be served as a dinner meal with some crusty bread and wine.
Provided by somaluna
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Vegetable Soup Recipes
Time 1h30m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Bring the vegetable broth and water to a boil in a large pot. Stir in the green beans, zucchini, carrots, and potatoes. Return to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the pistou by processing the basil leaves, garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, and salt together in a food processor until finely chopped; set aside.
- Stir the kidney beans, white beans, canned diced tomatoes, and spaghetti into the soup and return to a simmer. Cook until the spaghetti is tender, about 10 minutes. Remove the soup from the heat and stir in the pistou. Sprinkle with Gruyere cheese and Parmesan cheese to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 455.7 calories, Carbohydrate 63 g, Cholesterol 10.8 mg, Fat 15.7 g, Fiber 11.4 g, Protein 17.1 g, SaturatedFat 3.6 g, Sodium 1056.4 mg, Sugar 9.4 g
PESTO
Basic pesto, made with basil, olive oil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. This recipe differs from the classic preparation by the addition of parsley. You can add a little extra Parmesan to the mixture if you like.
Provided by ANDERVAL
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes
Time 5m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and nuts in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth paste. Add parsley if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 91.5 calories, Carbohydrate 1 g, Cholesterol 3.3 mg, Fat 9 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 2.3 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 59.1 mg, Sugar 0.1 g
PISTOU
Categories Condiment/Spread Sauce Garlic Herb Vegetarian Basil Fall Spring Summer Winter Bon Appétit
Yield Makes about 3/4 cup
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Finely chop garlic in processor. Add basil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Process until basil is finely chopped, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. With machine running, gradually blend in oil. Add cheese; process to blend well. Season with pepper. Transfer to bowl. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Place plastic wrap directly onto surface of Pistou; refrigerate.)
PESTO AND PISTOU
I use pesto and pistou in many other dishes besides pasta. Pesto is a nutritionally dense condiment; basil is a great source of flavonoids that are believed to have antioxidant and antibacterial properties. It's also an excellent source of vitamin K, and a very good source of iron, calcium and vitamin A. Purists will only use a mortar and pestle for pesto. I like the results I get using a hand blender inside a straight-sided jar. As long as you make the full batch, this is the best machine to use, as it purées the basil much more efficiently than a food processor.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories easy, quick, condiments
Yield 1/2 to 2/3 cup
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- If using a hand blender, place the garlic, basil, pine nuts, salt and olive oil in a pint jar. Stick the hand blender right down into the mixture and turn on. Blend until smooth. You may have to start and stop a few times at the beginning, and scrape down the sides of the jar. Once the mixture is smooth, add the cheese and stir or blend together. If using a food processor fitted with the steel blade, turn on and drop in the garlic. When it is chopped and adhering to the sides of the bowl, stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Add the basil, pine nuts, salt, pepper and olive oil to the food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Add the Parmesan and pulse until well combined. If using a mortar and pestle, add the basil leaves a handful at a time and mash with the pestle. Add the pine nuts, garlic, salt and pepper, and mash to a paste with the basil. Work in the olive oil and the Parmesan.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 800, UnsaturatedFat 55 grams, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 81 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 15 grams, SaturatedFat 16 grams, Sodium 817 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams
SUN DRIED TOMATO PESTO (NO NUTS)
This is my version of red pesto. It's really good with pasta or spread on a crusty bread.
Provided by Jenny Crocker
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Pasta Sauce Recipes
Time 20m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Place sun-dried tomatoes in a small pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let tomatoes soften, about 10 minutes. Drain.
- Blend tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and salt in a blender until mixed. Slowly add olive oil, about 1/4 cup at a time; blend until smooth.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 204 calories, Carbohydrate 4.2 g, Cholesterol 1.1 mg, Fat 20.8 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 1.6 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 451.9 mg, Sugar 2.6 g
BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S PISTOU
This delicious pistou is actually taken from a Provencal Vegetable Soup recipe by the Barefoot Contessa. The pistou is meant to be added to the soup just before serving. While a wonderful addition for the soup, it was hard to keep my DH from eating all the pistou on crusty Italian bread! Now it is requested on a regular basis and tastes great with bread, crackers, or even raw veggies. You can even toss it with hot pasta. It's a little garlicky tho, so you may want to cut back on the garlic if you don't want it that strong.
Provided by Suzie-Q
Categories Spreads
Time 10m
Yield 1 cup
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Place the garlic, tomato paste, basil, and Parmesan in the bowl of a food processor and puree.
- With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil down the feed tube to make a paste.
- Pack into a container, pour a film of olive oil on top, and close the lid.
- Can also be whirled in a blender.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1261.6, Fat 123, SaturatedFat 23.7, Cholesterol 44, Sodium 1289, Carbohydrate 21.8, Fiber 5.6, Sugar 8.8, Protein 24.5
Tips:
- Choose the right greens: Basil is the traditional herb used in pesto, but you can also use other leafy greens like spinach, kale, or arugula. If you're using a green with a strong flavor, like kale, you may want to use less of it.
- Use a variety of nuts: If you can eat nuts, you can add a variety of nuts to your pesto, such as pine nuts, walnuts, or almonds. This will give your pesto a more complex flavor and texture.
- Don't over-process the pesto: Pesto should be a chunky sauce, not a smooth puree. If you over-process it, the pesto will lose its fresh flavor and color.
- Use fresh ingredients whenever possible: Fresh herbs, vegetables, and nuts will give your pesto the best flavor. If you can't find fresh ingredients, you can use frozen or dried herbs and vegetables.
- Taste the pesto as you make it: Pesto is a versatile sauce, so you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. If you want a more flavorful pesto, add more herbs or nuts. If you want a milder pesto, add more olive oil or cheese.
Conclusion:
Whether you are restricted by nut allergies or simply want to try a different take on the classic pesto recipe, this nutless pesto is sure to impress. Made with a variety of flavorful ingredients, this nut-free alternative has a vibrant green color, a robust garlicky flavor, and a smooth, creamy texture. Use it as a vibrant spread for sandwiches or wraps, a savory addition to pasta or pizza, or as a flavorful marinade for grilled tofu. With endless versatility and a symphony of flavors, this nutless pesto is a versatile culinary companion that will add a burst of flavor to any dish.
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